CNN's GUT CHECK | for June 14, 2013 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

HOW TO SILENCE an audience of conservatives part 1: Jeb Bush, arguing for immigration reform, says immigrants 'are more fertile'… "Immigrants create far more businesses than native-born Americans over the last 20 years. mmigrants are more fertile, and they love families, and they have more intact families, and they bring a younger population. Immigrants create an engine of economic prosperity," Bush said at the annual Faith and Freedom conference in the nation's capital.

HOW TO SILENCE Establishment Republicans, part 2: Michele Bachmann announces (sort of) … "I just recently announced that I wouldn't be seeking a fifth term in the United States House of Representatives, but I do have a very important announcement that I would like to make to each one of you today," Bachmann began. "It is this: I do intend to run for president," she said, pausing for loud cheers from the crowd. But she had an addendum: "…of the Tim Tebow fan club."

GAME ON: Despite smug dismissals of early campaign coverage ...the '16 race for president is starting to take shape. – Mark Preston

Before you donate to the next “worthy cause,” take a minute to read the results of a year-long CNN investigation into America’s worst charities:

“The worst charity in America operates from a metal warehouse behind a gas station in Holiday, Florida. Every year, Kids Wish Network raises millions of dollars in donations in the name of dying children and their families. Every year, it spends less than 3 cents on the dollar helping kids.”

the LEDEDid you miss it?

Leading CNNPolitics:Christie has repair work to do with conservatives
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declined an invitation to attend a major gathering of social conservatives this week in Washington, opting instead to make a high-profile appearance at a forum organized by former President Bill Clinton in Chicago. – Peter Hamby

Leading Drudge:Russia Hits Back At USA Over Syria
The Kremlin Friday dismissed as unconvincing evidence that U.S. officials provided of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons and criticized Washington's decision to arm Syrian opposition fighters, but stopped short of threatening to deliver air-defense missiles to the Assad government in response. – Paul Stone

Leading HuffPo:Raising Arizona: Brewer Nabs Big Victory In GOP Fight
Arizona will expand Medicaid to cover nearly 300,000 poor residents next year after a bipartisan coalition passed a measure backed by Gov. Jan Brewer (R) through the state legislature on Thursday. – Jeffrey Young

Leading Politico:Syria chemical weapons: President Obama's forced hand
President Barack Obama has crossed a red line of his own on Syria — spurred by the fast flood of bad news on the ground and a spirited internal debate about national prestige under his own roof. – Glenn Thrush and Reid Epstein

Leading The New York Times:Obama’s Pen May Shape Scope of Marriage Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling this month that could overturn the ban on federal benefits for same-sex couples is presenting the Obama administration with a series of complicated and politically sensitive decisions: how aggressively to overhaul references to marriage throughout the many volumes that lay out the laws of the United States. – Michael Shear

TRAIL MOMENTSThe political bites of the day

- Rhodes: We share the red line -BEN RHODES, DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, AT THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING: “The use of chemical weapons violates clear international norms. For decades, the international community sought to strengthen a norm against the use of this type of weapon - given, both its potential for mass casualty, and given the type of weapon of mass destruction that it is and the effects we've seen it have when it's been used in past history. So this isn't just a red line for the United States in our view. It should be a red line for the international community, generally.”

- Bill Clinton says Syria 'trending in right direction' -FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IN AN INTERVIEW WITH MSNBC: “It looks to me like this thing is trending in the right direction," Clinton said on MSNBC. I think on balance this should be seen as a positive story, that America has information now about the chemical attacks, they clearly know that there are other outside powers trying to shore up Assad and his repressive tactics.”

- Castellanos: A Republican who can win -ALEX CASTELLANOS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR, IN AN OPINION PIECE FOR CNN: “If anyone wants to transform the old, lifeless, ‘white-guys-in suits’ caricature of the Republican Party, look no further: Your dream candidate has arrived. Gabriel Gomez is an antidote to the stuffy Republican establishment that only says ‘No’ and scares next-generation voters away.”

- Begala: A 'new kind' of Republican? Are you kidding? -PAUL BEGALA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR, IN AN OPINION PIECE FOR CNN: “I suppose Republicans are to be congratulated for nominating a Latino Navy SEAL as their Senate candidate in Massachusetts. I recall when GOP lowlifes mocked and lied about the war heroism of John Kerry, and just last year Mitt Romney was saying the DREAM Act was a "handout" and Latinos voted for President Obama because they wanted "gifts." But if you're looking for a "new kind of Republican," Gabriel Gomez is not your candidate.”

- Gut Check Full Service: Father’s Day is Sunday -CONAN OBRIEN ON HIS LATE NIGHT COMEDY SHOW: “This Sunday is Father's Day. Or as NBA players call it, don't answer the phone day.”

TOP TWEETSWhat stopped us in 140 characters or less

Jeb Bush says he's perplexed by the term "narrative" in political discourse, contributing to the narrative that he's behind the times

Ford's mother, Dorothy Ayer Gardner, divorced Ford’s biological father just 16 days after their son was born. Ford and his mother would live with family members until she re-married a man named Gerald Rudolph Ford in 1916.

When the future president was three years-old, his name was changed to match his adoptive father.

GUT CHECK WINNER’S CIRCLE (why aren’t you in it)

Congrats to Steve Liguori (@SteveL3877) for correctly answering today’s trivia. It has been awhile, Steve.

soundoff(4 Responses)

Well, Tim Tebow is as dumb as a stump and can throw a football relatively accurately. So which one of those characteristics do you think he and the president of his fan club have in common?

Also, Jeb, not only are they more fertile, but how about dem with doz strong legs dat can jump over ya head to get a basketball. Makes you wonder why the cotton states didn't invent basketball leagues in the mid-1800s and populate it with all their indentured immigrants, right Jeb?

June 14, 2013 04:42 pm at 4:42 pm |

Sniffit

“If anyone wants to transform the old, lifeless, ‘white-guys-in suits’ caricature of the Republican Party, look no further: Your dream candidate has arrived. Gabriel Gomez is an antidote to the stuffy Republican establishment that only says ‘No’ and scares next-generation voters away.”"

I can always count on the Alexbot to make me laugh. Sure...brown GOP guy in suit saying the same crap that white GOP guys in suits say...that's a HUUUUUUGE difference. He's even a private equity jackhole who sent jobs to China just like Mittens. And oh, hey, he cheated on his taxes by claiming a deduction for a voluntary deed restriction on his home that simply reiterated what the local regulations already mandated and therefore didn't actually change the value of his property. Real breath of fresh air this guy. First stop, his trouncing by Markey...then off to the WH. He really curls your 'stache for ya, huh?